The Portland daily press., 1887-03-30

read it without an increased sense of respon-
sibility, courage and ambition; and its dig
nified acceptance of the worth of practical
affairs, undertaken and carried out faith
fully, is much more wholesome than vague
attempts after the clue to the mysteries Of a
higher life before the duties Of the prepara-
tory stage Of existence have been studied and
fulfilled. 1t would be pleasant to quote some
of the sensible and effective paragraphs OF
Mr. Tilley's volume, but it must suffice to
recommend it as a useful and attractive Sc
ries of essays upon practical truths. (Chica-
go: s. C. Griggs d Coz
Ii these enclycopedic times, when it is
necessary to have some notion of everything,
and the bulk and amount of science is so
greatly in excess of individual possibilities
there is need of reliable and compressed
information, prepared by competent special
lists for the use of the general public. Such
work is Principles of Art, by c. Van Dyke.
1t is rapid survey, based ON variety of
sound authorities. of the history and theory
of Art, from its origin in the rude carvings of
the primitive peoples, through its successive
stages of development in the art of Egypt
and of Greece, and the subtler and more in
tellectual period of comparatively modern art.
Mr.. Van Dyke considers art to be the expo
nent of its own time; and that, although il
take argument from the past or the future,
its spirit and shape are those of its own CEN
fury. His views of the history and theory
of art are clear and well expressed, show
ing critical sense and power Of generaliza-
ton. His style is unaffected and agreeable,
such as to render his work popular and USE
full. 1t is to be recommended to those form
ing public or private libraries. New York:
Fords, Howard & Hubert; Portland: Lor.
ing Short e. Harmony
A Century of Electricity is the attractive
title of monograph upon magnetic science
by Mr.. I. c. Mendenhal. The author de-
MES himself, as far as possible, the use of
technical terms, which mean so mucL to the
initiated and so little to the ordinary reader.
The century which has passed since the Ital-
ian Calvin ''6rst discovered the force of the
magnetic current, is termed by Mr. Menden-
hall the new era of electricity" Yet truth
has never been left without testimony in any
age; and electricity began to suggest itself
to mems minds in the days when the myth
of Phaeton connected the thunderbolts of
Jupiter with the mysterious amber; and the
Phenician traders, as Homer relates, brought
to the Queen of SYRIA necklace hung with
amber pendants. From these early glimpses
| of the science, noted by Mr.. Mendenhall, it
will be seen that he appreciates its poetry as
well as its practical prose. The experiments
of Galvani and Volta were the fist steps Of
definite progress in the science of electricity
and to their names, in a work which
should undertake to be more than a rapid
survey of salient points, would be righttully
added many others of Italians who during
the last century have made valuable dicover-
| les in this, as in nearly all the other practi-
| cal applications Of science. 1t is curious
fact that very large proportion of the use
full inventions and discoveries have been
first made by Italians; but for variety of
reasons-political oppression, want of money
| or patronage, and in some instances the lack
of that tact in affairs which flourishes hest
in freedom-until lately they have seemed
only to prepare the way for inventors of
other nationalities to reach eminence. Mr..
Mendenhall discusses the invention of the
electromagnetic telegraph, the submarine
cable, Faraday's researches and the develop
ment of the Dynamo electric light and motor
force, and concludes that while the coming
century cannot expect to make such conspic-
uous discoveries in the department of cleo
trio science, it has very much to accomplish
in the way of tanning the lassoed lightning,
until it shall be a reliable servant, willing to
accommodate its pace to its masters pleas
ure, instead of INDUCING in the irregular
proceedings which alternately tighten and
darken our streets, facilitate or cut off COM
munication with distant correspondents; re-
calcitrant with suddenness and decision to
| give points to br0ncho pony Perhaps the
| desired element of steadiness and stability
| to drop metaphor and return to Mr.. Menden-
halls conclusions-may be found in new
element possessing unusual electric proper
ties or new alloy of a similar character,
and either of these may also open the way
to new group Of discoveries. The Century
of Electricity is volume that will not fail
to be popular and useful. (New York
Houghton, Miffiin g. Co. Portland: Loring,
Short & Harmony
Haifa, or Life in Modern Palestine, is the
title of volume of which the contents orig
inally appeared as letters written for the
New York Sun by Laurence Oliphant. These
sketches contain much information in regard
to the present people and condition of Pales-
tine, as well as to the researches which are
continually in progress, with view to the
yerifcation of localities and events men,
toned in Bible history, and to the interests
of archaeology. Much as has already been
written about the scenery and inhabitants
of Palestine, new work-and especially one
like this, the result of sojourn of several
years in that country-will be welcome to a
large class of readers, and those who have
enjoyed Mr.. ELEPHANTS letters in the jour ma
with which he is connected, will be glad to
preserve them in book form. New York
Harper ,& Brothers; Portland: Loring
Short g. HARMONY
cnhIV kTnuV CKIM